Driver sentenced for deadly car crash that killed friend

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Kyle Zobrist was sentenced Tuesday for a February 2013 car crash that killed his passenger.

Zobrist was speeding and slammed into a tree in Washington Township, ejecting and killing the passenger, 21-year-old Jonathan Endres.

Testing revealed Zobrist had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit and he also had other controlled substances in his system.

He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with the judge suspending 38 days.

He’ll spend seven days in jail and 45 days under electronic monitoring. He is allowed to only go to work or school during that period.

His drivers license was suspended for two years and he must serve two years probation. He was also fined $550.

Zobrist had previously pled no contest to charges of vehicular manslaughter and reckless operation,both misdemeanors.

Kettering Prosecutor James Long says normally when alcohol is involved, there are felony charges.

So, we asked why that didn’t happen in this case.

“The county prosecutor chose not to indict it as a felony,” says Long.

Endres’ family wasn’t in court for the sentencing.

Since his death, they’ve moved out of state.

But, Endres’ father and sister wrote letters to the judge.

“here was no vindictive tone in the letters. Their request was that you not go to jail and that you have your license. However, as a judge, I need to balance things and although I respect their opinon, I’m not required to follow said opinon and I’m not going to,” explains Judge Thomas Hanna.

Zobrist was immediately taken to jail to start serving time. His attorney says his client will continue to go to couseling to help cope with the loss of his friend.

“I know that I have to be held accountable for the series of actions that happened that night. I am truly sorry for that and I am here to carry out whatever is necessary in my fault,” comments Zobrist.